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Man gets 17 years in grandmother's death

Defendant, 41, knocked 90-year-old to the ground during dispute with his 60-year-old mom.

TNS Regional News

Apr 18, 2014

A Columbus man whose 90-year-old grandmother died after he knocked her to the floor during a family dispute has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.

John C. Spindler, 41, pleaded guilty last month to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Annarea McCray and felonious assault for attacking his 60-year-old mother, Pamela Haskins.

“I apologize for what happened,” Spindler said before he was sentenced today. “If I could take it back, I’d take it back.”

He said he “doesn’t want to be a stumbling block to (the family’s) forgiveness.”

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Pat Sheeran imposed the sentence, which was recommended by Prosecutor Ron O’Brien and Spindler’s attorney, Crysta Pennington, as part of a plea agreement. Spindler will be eligible to apply for judicial release after serving half of the sentence.

He began beating his mother during an argument on June 13 at the family’s home on Vilardo Lane. McCray — his maternal grandmother — tried to stop him. Spindler threw her to the floor, breaking her hip.

McCray developed pneumonia while recuperating in a rehabilitation center and died on June 19. County Coroner Jan Gorniak ruled the death a homicide.

Pennington told the judge that the family was dysfunctional and that Spindler and his mother “ always had a tumultuous relationship.”

Haskins, who has been hospitalized with breathing problems several times since the beating, did not attend the hearing. Family members told the judge that she recently was released from a hospital and is not doing well.